Printing telegraph apparatus



Oct'.,28, 1952 R. D. SALMON 2,615,980

PRINTING TELEGRAPH APPARATUS Filed March 11. 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 FIG.2

"" m m B 65 IN VEN TOR. REGINALD D. SALMON BMW-71);.

ATTORNEY O 1952 R. D. SALMON PRINTING TELEGRAPH APPARATUS 2 SHEETS-SHEET2 Filed' March 11, 1948 FIG. 3

INVENTOR. REGINALD D. SALMON ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 28, 1952 PRINTINGTELEGRAPH APPARATUS Reginald Dennis Salmon, Croydon, England, assignerto Creed and Company Limited, Croydon, England, a British companyApplication March 11, 1948, Serial No. 14,177 In Great Britain March 14,1947' This invention relates to printing telegraph receivers. j

For efficient handlingof telegraph traffic in business offices andpublic services, many functions must be provided in a printing telegraphreceiver in addition to those required to print and space thecharacters. It has long been the practice to provide function leverswhich are selectable for the performance of the several functionsrequired and to arrange that some of these levers are selectable uponthe receipt of the figure shift signal followed by the signalrepresenting the particular function required, others being selectablein either shift. '1

There is now an increasing demand for provision of more functions thancan be provided only by the use of afive-unit code (or a code whichconsists of a larger number of units but has its limitations owing tothe number of permutations thereof that can be used, such as theseven-unit security code used for certain radio circuits) and using onlyfigure and letter shift positions. Accordingly it has been proposed tomake certain functions selectable upon the receipt of three successivesignals, that is, the figure shift signal, a secondary shift signal(such as the all-blank signal) and the signal representing a function.

According to a feature. of the present invention, there is provided aprinting telegraph receiver comprising means operative in response toany one of three different shift signals to condition the receiver tocause a subsequent signal towhave a different effect accordin to whichof the three shift signals was last received.

According to another feature of the invention there is provided aprinting telegraph receiver comprising means operative in response toletter.

shift and figure shift signals, to condition the receiver into a lowercase and upper case conditionrespectively, and thus to cause any one ofa plurality of different signals to have correspondingly differenteffects, according to whether thereceiver is in said lower case or uppercase condition, and also comprising means operative in response to asecondary shift signal received when the receiver is in either lowercase or upper case condition, to condition the receiver to cause asubsequent received signal to have an effect different from that whichit has when the receiver is in either lower or upper case condition.

This secondary'shift signal may conveniently be the all-blank signalsince this latter is the only signal to which an internationalsignificance has not so far been allotted.

8 Claims. (Cl. 178 -33)' live code-functionselector-members they-are setby spacing l The invention considerably extends the range of functionsto be performed in response to appropriate signals that can be provided.In the present development of receivers it is preferred to arrange thatthe secondary shift signal shall cause only the immediately followingsignal to havean effect that is different from that due to some signalif the previously received shift signal were the letter-shift orfigure-shift signal. To take an example, a given signal following thesecondary shift signal may be the tabulate signal. This tabulate signalis then effective to cause the type carriage in a page printer to betraversed to'thebeginning of anew margin. A signal representing a figureor a letter following on the tabulate signal will'restore the receiverto the condition it was in before receipt of the secondary shift signal,and a letter or'figure (as the case may be) will be printed. Thisarrangement saves considerable transmission time in many cases andvirtually extends the number of functions that are performed in both thelower and upper case condition of the machine.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference tothe accompanying drawings in which:

' Figs. 1 and 2 are views partly in section of the function selectingmechanism in a printing telegraph receiver shown in different positionin the twodifferent figures showing a secondary'case shift member in oneposition;' and Fig. 3 is a view showing this last mentioned member inthe other position;

" Referring to the drawings, these show the func-:.

1947, and the manner in which it is arranged to carry out the presentinvention.

Five-'horizontalshafts Il-l5 are journalled at each end inkbearingsinotshown) in the work of the machine. Fixed to each shaft are rods l6 andmounted on the rods are rollers I7, parallel to the shafts, each shaftwith its rollers constituting a code function-selector-member; so thatfor the five unit code there are five codefunction-selector-membersl8-22. Each of these 18-22 is movable into one or the other of twodifferent positions according to the nature (marking or spacing) of acorresponding code element ofthe signal in the manner described in mysaid copending/application. In 7 Hi to 22 are shown in thepositionsinto-which signa1 elements, whilst in Fig. 2 members l8 and'20are shown in markframe Fig 1 all the membersing positions and in Fig. 3members, I8, I8, H, and 22 are shown in marking position.

The members Iii-22 may be regarded as vanes pivoted along theirlongitudinal axes. Instead of being made continuous however, the seriesof rods I6 is adopted for the sake of lightness.

(lo-operating with the code-function-selectormembers [8-22, arefunction-members 25, 26, Fig. 3; 3|, 32, Fig. 1; 33, 34 Figure 2. Thesefunction-members are levers pivoted on rods 35, 36, and are arranged inpairs on opposite sides of the code-function-selector-members I8-22.Each pair is connected together at the upper ends of the levers by aspring 31' for. each pair so that the levers are spring-urged towardsthe members I8-22.

The levers 25, 26, (H to 34 are cut with a series of notches 38 with sawtooth edges. Any notch on a lever is cut in a, position so that it isopposite a roller I! when the correspondingcode-function-selector-member is in marking or spacing positionrespectively. Thus, any particue lar, lever will be free, to be moved byits spring 31 for oneparticular setting of the member's til-22. Each ofthe members 8-22 when set according to themarking or spacing conditionof its corresponding code element, retains its setting until thecorresponding. code, element in a subsequent received signal is ofdifferent character. Consequcntly, on. a repetition of the same signalall theme'mbers I 8,-22 remain undisturbed. When however, any one of.the members. Iii-22 moves into. another. position on a subsequentsetting, the'function lever that is in selected position will be forcedaway. from themembers Ill-22, the rollers. I'I. ensuring a smoothcamming action with the, minimum of friction.

The function members 25, 26, 3I--34 serve directly onindirectly tocausethe various functions to.be performed.

The'functions themselves are carried out by, means of cams, carried, onvarious cam sleeves,

driven through clutches from shafts constantly.

driven by. a motor.

The. function levers may act either to control the release of aparticular cam to perform the corresponding function or. to control theposition of. aninter ponent that causes; a cam that is in variably.released. to. perform. the; particular functions. Certain function.levers are allotted to; be,

selected when the. letter. shift; and. figureshift signals. respectivelyare. receivedand these function levers control the; position of a; shiftvane 6 0, fixed to a horizontahshaft BI, mountecisimilarly to the shaftsLI-Liwith its axis the same vertical plane. The letter shiftpositionofvane 50, is Shbwn ure. nd; h fisure hi t position in Figs. 1 and; 3,The mannerin. whichv thisvane 6B is movedintooneor otherofitstwo se s? ese ct ve of he. wt es nd n f fi e e s ndj h'e ma ine in which thisposition places the receiver in the lower or upper. case, condition arefully. describedinmy said copending a l llcationl The vane (is; con

stitutes a shift function selectorv member. A finger l9 carried-bythelever 25. abut's a'gainstthe arm 63 on the vane 60, and this .vaneis.tilted into the, position shownin Fig. 3, in. which position anextension as thereon rides onto the. shoulder of a latch 8i and therebyrotates this latch'thrcugh a smallangle about a pivot 82. Th pivot B2 ismounted onlever 2B, and the latch BI is held, against the tensionofla.sprin 83, which is stretched between an arm of the latchand an arm 8@fixed to lever 26.

A second shift function-selectormember is also provided in the form of avane H9. Lever 3| is the secondary shift function member and is providedwith notches 38 corresponding to an all-blank signal consisting of fivesuccessive spaces which is used as the secondary shift signal. Whenlever 3| moves into position shown in Fig. 1, vane. I I9 carried on arotatable shaft I26 is pressed into a, horizontal position, as shown,against the tension of a spring I2| by a finger I22 attached to lever 3|and acting on an extension I23 projecting upwards from vane H9. ShaftI20 is parallel to and in the same vertical plane as the "shafts lI-I5and 61. A latch I24 is: pivotally mounted on a bracket I25, fixed to apart I26 of the framework of the machine, which part, is also formedwith comb guides for the function levers 3I-34 etc. Latch I24 is pulledto the left by a spring I21 attached to function lever 31 and when vaneH9 is pressed into the horizontal position, it snaps under the latch andis retained as shown in Fig. 1.

Each of the special function levers selectable following the secondary.shift signal such as lever 33 (Fig. 2), is provided with a slot I28. sothat the lever can move inwards when vane. I19 is. in the horizontalposition.

A lever I29 mounted on a pivot I30 has one end cooperating with thelatch I24 while the other end is held against a cam I3I carried. on thetranslator cam sleeve (not shown). This cam rotates lever I29 clockwiseonce in each revolution, immediately before each, change of setting ofthe code function selector membersto withdraw the latch, I24, from.engagement with the vane I I9 and then allows it to fall back.

If the secondary shift lever 31 is in selected position, the latch I24.when it falls backre.- engages vane H9 and holds itin horizontal position The next following. setting ofv the code.-.function-selector-members 18-22 is then. effece tive. to select a.special function lever such as 33, Fig, 2 since vane. I I9 is-retainedin horizontal. position and permits the lever 33, to moveintoselected position, the slot I28 being. in alignment with the edgeof vaneH9. Upon the latch. I24

now being liftedby the lever I29 the. vane. Scan. move slightly in thenotch I28 so that when-the latch, I24. is allowed to fall back itvdoesso into the, position shownin Fig.2 It now the setting-.-

coming-outofthe notches. 381m saidlever, the

vane H9 will beimmediate-lytilted backbythespring- I2I to itsoriginalposition shown in Fig-. '3

becausethelever-33 will free the vane H9 before another specialfunctionlever moves far enough towardsselected position for the slot-I28 izrrthe latter to engagevane II9; The consequence of, this isthattheselectionofa function following theselection Oftheall-blank,lever 3 I is effectivefor one feature only but any leverv suchas, 33which, is selected. following. the all-blank signal can remain in.theselected position inthe event;

of repetitions of thesame signal as many times as. may be desired,since; on repetition of; the. samesignal, no changecccurs inthesettingofmembers I8-22, theedge; of-vane; IIQremaining.

withinthe slot. I28-of lever-33,

It, will be noted from, the, drawings; that; the

selection of. special function levers such, as 33; is;

independent of the position. of the; caseshift function-selector-member5. 0.-

t verppsi:

tion this member is in, it is immediately effective after the specialfunction has been performed.

The above-described arrangement provides the following six facilitieswith a five-unit code:

1. Selection and printing of twenty-six characters in the letter shiftposition of the apparatus. No function members are selected in responseto the receipt of, signals representing any of these characters. Theselection and printing of characters are performed by means of apparatusthat forms no part of the present invention and is therefore notdescribed herein.

2. Selection and printing of ten numerals and fourteen signs in thefigures-shift position of the apparatus. Again, no function members needbe selected in response to the receipt of signals representing any ofthese characters, unless some particular function may be required to beperformed incidental to the printing of the character. In this lattercase, a function member is selected in response to the particularsetting or settings of-the code-function-selector-members l8-22representing the character or char' acters and the setting of the caseshift vane 60 in figure shift position, the vane H9 being in unsetposition.

3. Selection of two functions, viz the release of the answer backmechanism, and the actuation of a calling hell by the movement of tworespective function members selected by the setting of the vane 60 infigure shift position and the respective settings of thecode-function-selector-members l8-22, the vane I H) being in unsetposition.

4. Selection of letter-shift, figure shift and secondary shift functionmembers by means of appropriate settings of thecode-function-selector-members l8-22 with the vane 60 in either lettershift or figure shift position, and the sec ondary shift vane H9 ineither position.

5. Selection of carriage return, line feed and character space functionmembers by means of appropriate settings of thecode-function-selector-members l8-22 with the vane 60 in either positionand the secondary shift vane I I9 in unset position.

6. Selection of any number of special function members up to twenty-sixwith the vane 60 in either position and the secondary shift vane I IS inset position.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare thatwhat I claim is:

1. Printing telegraph receiver operative in response to any of threedifferent shift signals to condition said receiver to responddifferently to an incoming signal depending upon which of said differentshift signals preceded said incoming signal, comprising acode-function-selectormember for each code element of the signal, camoperated mechanical means for setting each of said members into one orother of two positions in accordance with the corresponding element ofeach signal, a primary shift selectormember and a secondary shiftselector-member, means for causing the setting of saidcode-function-selector-members in accordance with letter shift or figureshift signals to position said primary shift selector membercorrespondingly, mechanical means for causing the setting of saidcode-function-selector-members in accordance with a secondary shiftsignal to position said secondary shift selector member, and mechanicalmeans selectively responsive to the combined 6 settings of saidcode-function-selector-members and said primary and secondary shiftselector membersto select different of a plurality of functions to beperformed in the receiver.

2. Printing telegraph receiver according to claim 1 in which saidcode-function-selectormembers and said primary and secondary shiftmembers are in the form of vanes all parallel and each adapted to. berotated into one or other of two different angular positions toselectively actuate said means for selecting functions to be performed,and means for selectively causing particular combinations of settings ofsaid vanes to cause the movement in one direction of corresponding ofsaid function selecting means.

3. Printing telegraph receiver comprising a plurality ofcode-function-selector-members, one for each element of the code, camoperated mechanical means for setting said functionselector-members inaccordance with received signals, means operative upon the setting ofsaid function-selector-members to select any one of a first plurality offunctions to be performed, mechanical meansoperative upon the setting ofsaid function-selector-members in accordance with a figure shift signalfollowed by their setting in accordance with any one of a plurality ofsubsequent signals to select a corresponding one of afsecond pluralityof functions to be per-' formed and mechanical means selectivelyoperative upon the setting of said code-functionselector-members inaccordance with a secondary shift signal followed by their setting inaccordance with any one of a plurality of subsequent signals to selectany one of a third plurality of functions to be performed.

4. Printing telegraph receiver comprising a plurality ofcode-function-selector-members, one for each element of the code camoperated mechanical means for setting said function-selectormembers inaccordance with received signals, mechanical means operative upon thesetting of said function selector-members in accordance with a figureshift signal followed by their setting in accordance with any one of aplurality of subsequent signals to select a corresponding code of aplurality of functions to be performed and mechanical means selectivelyoperative upon the setting of said function selector members inaccordance with a secondary shift signal followed by their setting inaccordance with any one of a plurality of subsequent signals to select acorresponding one of another plurality of functions to be performed.

5. Printing telegraph receiver comprising a plurality ofcode-functionselector-members, one for each element of the code, camoperated mechanical means for setting said code functions selectormembers in accordance with three different shift signals, viz, a lettershift signal, a figure shift signal, and a secondary shift signal,mechanical means operative upon the setting of said members inaccordance with either a letter shift signal or a figure shift signaland subsequently upon their setting in accordance with any one of afirst plurality of signals to cause the selection of a corresponding oneof a first pluralityof functions to be performed, mechanical meansoperative upon the setting of said members in accordance with a figureshift signal and subsequently upon their setting in accordance with anyone of a second plurality of signals to cause the selection of acorresponding one of a second plurality of functions, and mechanicalmeans selectively operative upon the setting of said members inaccordance with a secondary Shift signal and .subseqrent v upo t eirsettin in accordance with any one of a plurality of signals to cause theselection of ,a corresponding one of a third plurality of functionsirrespece tive of whether the particular shift signal out of the lettera d fi ure sh ft nal last received before said secondary shift signalwas the letter r the figu sh ts-s nal.

.6. Pri ti tele raph receiver a ord g t claim 5 in which saidcode-,funct-ion-selectormembers are in the form of pivoted .vanesarranged parallel with one another each adapted to be rotated into oneor another angular position according to the character ,of thecorresponding signal element and further comprising primary andsecondary pivoted shift vanes parallel to the other vanes. and adaptedto be rota ed 'in one oranother angular position according to thesetting of the code fnnction-selector-vanes, function levers selectablefor movement by particular cornhinational settings of the said vanes andmeans to selectively operate a selected function lever to cause thecorresponding function to be Performed.

T1. Printing telegraph receiver as claimed in selected vof said functionlever o t of sel c d position. means cycl cal operative upo th movementof said secondary shift function lever o t of s lect d position forreleasin said secondary shift vane, means operative upon the movem ntint elected p siti n f a functio le er selectable when said second ryshift vane is in said given angular position to hold said secondaryshift vane temporari y in said give posiion re ardless of the cyclicoperation of said 1 releasing means, and means operative on the claim {icomprising a secondary shift function V lever, means for selecting saidfunction lever for o e at n y a settin of said code-functionselectorvanes, irrespective of the setting of said primary shift vane, meansoperative upon movement of said secondary shift function lever to causethe rotation of said secondary shift vane into a given angular positionand to hold said vane in that position until released by an appropriatesubsequent signal and means selectively operative when said secondaryshift vane is in movement of said last mentioned function lever out ofoperative position to cause said secondary shift vane to be moved out ofsaid given angular po ition.

REGINALD DENNIS SALMON.

.REF-EBE QES CITE The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

